Dispensing closures



March 4, 1969 s, w so 3,430,825

DISPENSING CLOSURES Fi led Aug. 25. 1966 \dm gag INVENTOR. W 70D0W .5! WILSON United States Patent 2 Claims ABSTRACT OF THE DISCLOSURE This invention pertains to new and improved dispensing closures of the rotatable spout type.

A dispensing closure of the type to which this invention pertains has:

A closure top of a material permitting the parts of the closure to be snapped together, an opening leading into and through the closure top, two aligned bearing means located above and on opposite sides of the opening, and slots leading to the extremities of the bearing means remote from said opening;

A spout member having a base, a portion of which is shaped as a surface of revolution, two aligned trunnion means extending from the base, the axes of the trunnion means being aligned with the axis of said portion, a spout extending from said base and a passage extending from said portion through the spout;

Each of the trunnion means being held by one of the bearing means so that said portion engages portions of closure top adjacent said opening in such a manner that the spout member may be rotated between a closed position in which said portion seals off the opening and an open position in which the passage is in communication with the opening,

Wherein the improvement comprises Bearing means of larger dimensions than the trunnion means and which effectively contact the trunnion means adjacent to the tops of the bearing means,

The only parts of said spout member being so contacted by said cap means being the parts of said trunnion means engaged by the tops of said bearing means and said portion of said base engaged by portions of closure top adjacent said opening, and

Said closure top and said spout member applying pressures to the portions of said closure top adjacent to said opening which are equal on both sides of an imaginary plane passing through the axis of the opening and the axes of said portion and the trunnion means,

Said closure top and said spout member also applying pressures to the portions of said closure top adjacent to said opening which are equal on both sides of an imaginary plane passing perpendicular to the axes of the trunnion means and said portion through the center of said opening.

Background This invention principally pertains to the crowded art of two or more piece rotatable spout type dispensing closures. It is primarily directed to closures having pieces which are adapted to be snapped together. The various closures of the type to which this invention pertains are primarily used in packaging and dispensing a number of different types of goods. Because of the fact that they are frequently used by manufacturers as essentially throwaway type items in packaging goods, the cost of these closures is a matter of important significance.

Such closures must not only be inexpensive, but they must also be reliable. In other words, when used on a package containing a fluid, there should be substantially no chance of these closures leaking. To a degree this is "ice interrelated with cost considerations. The more careful and expensive the manufacturing processes used in making a dispensing closure, obviously the greater the cost of the closure, and normally the higher the reliability of such a closure against leakage. The converse situation also prevails.

As a result of these factors, consideration has been given to the problem of producing inexpensive, reliable closures utilizing injection molded, thermoplastic parts. Most of this consideration has been directed to providing closures which are reliable even if high standards of due care are not exercised by the manufacturer. However, consideration should also be given to closures which can be used and reused over prolonged periods.

In these fields a number of factors are considered to be significant. One of these is the problem of shape changes resulting from cold flow of various common thermoplastic materials. Another is the problem of wear of various parts or portions of parts in a closure. Consideration should be and has been directed to the construction of reliable rotatable spout dispensing closures in which the parts will seal satisfactorily in spite of the presence of slightly undesirably shaped parts in such closure. Such undesirable shapes may result from substantially uncontrollable material shrinkage, die wear, improper molding conditions, or the like.

It is to 'be emphasized that the problems outlined in the preceding discussion have tended to be minimal with certain types of closures such as closures as are shown in the Wilson et al. US. Patent 2,793,795, Kubiliunas US. Patent 2,936,934, and the Gustafson US. Patent 3,023,939, even though it is believed that such problems may be material with other difierent types of dispensing closures of a related, two-piece, snap-together variety. In this field, however, sealing reliability is important, and it is considered that even a fraction of a percentage difference in sealing reliability between two different closures is of practical commercial importance.

Another factor which has been determined to be related to all of the above relates to the amount of force necessary to use these closures so as to move the spout members in them between open and closed positions. With prior closures it has been considered that comparative firmness or ruggedness of a construction was related to obtaining a satisfactory seal. Thus, in prior related structures such as the Mart US. Patent 2,727,658 it was considered necessary to specifically disclose that the spout member had to be snugly embraced by the portions of the cap surrounding it. This, of course, resulted in frictional forces tending to make it relatively difficult to move the spout member between open and closed positions.

Description Broad objectives of the present invention are to provide new and improved dispensing closures of the rotatable spout type which overcome problems of prior related closures as are indicated in the preceding discussion. Thus, in its more limited aspects this invention is intended to provide easy to use, relatively inexpensive, two-part closures which are relatively reliable as far as their sealing characteristics are concerned, even if the parts employed in these closures may not be exactly as desired or intended.

Various other advantages of this invention will be more fully apparent from a detailed consideration of the remainder of this specification, the appended claims and the accompanying drawing in which:

FIG. 1 is an isometric view of a dispensing closure of this invention;

FIG. 2 is a cross-sectional view taken at line 22 of FIG. 1;

FIG. 3 is a cross-sectional view taken at line '3-3 of FIG. 1; and

FIG. 4 is a cross-sectional view of the closure top with the spout member removed, this view being taken in the same direction as line 2-2 of FIG. 1.

The accompanying drawing is primarily intended so as to clearly illustrate for explanatory purposes a presently preferred embodiment or form of a dispensing closure of this invention. Those skilled in the dispensing closure field will realize that a number of different changes or modifications may be made in the precise closure illustrated through the exercise of routine engineering and/or design skill without departing from the essential concepts of this invention as defined by the appended claims.

In FIG. 1 there is shown a complete, assembled dispensing closure of this invention having two pieces, a closure top 12 and a spout member 14. Preferably the closure top is formed out of a somewhat resilient, somewhat deformable material capable of being temporarily deformed and returning to an initial configuration when present in relatively thin parts or members. Common linear and nonlinear polyethylenes exhibit these desired characteristics. The same characteristics are also found in other common thermoplastic polymers and other compositions. The spout member 14 may be formed of the same material as the closure top 12; it may also be formed out of other more rigid materials substantially incapable of temporary deformation.

The closure top 12 includes a top 16 proper and a conventional skirt 18 used in attaching the entire closure top 12 to a container. If desired the skirt 18 may be omitted and the top 16 may be formed directly as an integral part of a container. When the skirt 18 is used preferably it contains means (not shown) for attaching the skirt to a container such as threads or the like. Within the top 16 there is located a centrally located cavity 20 of generally rectilinear configuration. From one side of the cavity 20 a slot 22 extends to the periphery of the top 16 adjacent to the juncture of this top 16 and the skirt 18. Within the bottom of the cavity 20 an opening 24 passes through a bottom wall into the interior of the skirt 18. This opening 24 is used for dispensing purposes as hereinafter indicated.

Within the cavity 20 the wall 26 preferably carries an integrally formed, projecting sealing ring 28 capable of temporary deformation during the assembly and use of the complete dispensing closure 10. This sealing ring may be formed in the general manner indicated in the Gustafson US. Patent 3,023,939 or it may be formed as shown in a manner as indicated in the Akers US. patent application Ser. No. 439,515, filed Mar. '2, 1965, entitled Sealing Structure for Valves. The particular sealing ring 28 shown extends in a circular path coaxially around the opening 24. In cross-section it has the appearance of an inverted V, the centermost wall of which is aligned with and forms a continuation of the wall of the opening 24. In the embodiment 10 this sealing ring 28 is a portion of the top 12 adjacent the opening 24.

The opening 24 and the sealing ring 28 are located midway between side Walls 30 of the cavity 20. From these side walls 30 there extends within the top '20 identical bearing openings 32, the walls of which may be loosely termed bearing means. In the embodiment of the invention shown these bearing openings 32 are shown as having a generally rectilinear, box-like configuration. With the present invention the configuration of all except the upper walls of the openings 32 is considered to be substantially immaterial.

These walls 34 are intersected along lines 35 by tapered walls 36 at the sides of slots 38 leading from the exposed surface of the top 16. At the intersection of the walls 36 with the upper walls 34 these lines 35 define restrictive entrances into the bearing openings 32. These restrictive entrances are of smaller dimension than trunnions 40 extending from sides 42 of a base 44 of the spout member 14. These trunnions 40 are preferably identically formed and are axially aligned with one another. The principal portion 46 of the base 44 is shaped as a surface of revolutionspecifically a cylinder in the embodiment shown. The axis of this portion 46 coincides with the axis of the trunnions 40. The base 44 also carries a rectilinear spout 48. A passage 50 extends from the portion 46 through the spout 48 in the spout member 14.

This construction is designed so that the spout member 14 may be inserted within the closure top 12 by merely locating the trunnions 40 generally upon the upper areas of the tapered walls 36, and then by applying pressure to the spout member 14 so as to cause temporary deformation of the portion of the top 16 adjacent to the slots 38. This enables the trunnions 40 to pass the lines 35 of intersection of the walls 34 and 36 to within the bearing openings 32. As this occurs the portion 46 engages and deforms the sealing ring 28 by contact with it. As it is contacted in this manner the inherent characteristics of this sealing ring 28 will tend to apply an upwardly directed force to the spout member 14 which will bias the trunnions 40 into contact with the lines of intersection between the wall 34 and 36.

The inherent strength of the material within the closure top 12 is sufficient so that contact along the lines 35 is adequate to hold the trunnions 40 downwardly in place so that a seal is constantly maintained between the sealing ring 28 and the portion 46. This seal exists when the spout member 14 is in a closed position as indicated in FIGS. 1 and 2 of the drawing as well as when the spout member 14 is in an open position as indicated in phantom in FIG. 2 of the drawing. The spout member 14 may be rotated easily and conveniently between these two positions when assembly is completed with a minimum of frictional contact tending to oppose such rotation since the only parts of the spout member 14 contacted by the closure top 12 are the portions of the trunnions 40 engaged by the lines 35 of intersection of the walls 34 and 36 and that area of the portion 46 engaged at any one time by the sealing ring 28.

The effectiveness of the sealing ring 28 in the embodiment shown or in the area where a seal is formed in forming a seal with respect to the spout member 14 is related to the balance of forces achieved with this structure. It will be observed that the dispensing closure 10 is bilaterally symmetrical about an imaginary plane passing midway between the sidewalls 30 and passing through the spout member 14 perpendicularly to the axes of the trunnions 40 and the portion 46 through the center of the opening 24. Thus, with this structure holddown forces exerted by the closure top 12 through the trunnions 40 are equal and balanced on opposite sides of the opening 24 where a seal is formed. These forces are also balanced about an imaginary plane passing through the axis of the opening 24 and the axes of the portion 44 and of the trunnions 40. Thus, equal pressures are applied to the sealing ring 28 along two different imaginary planes located at right angles to one another and intersecting along the axis of the opening 24. This balance of forces in two directions is considered significant and important in forming a seal inasmuch as it corresponds to the principal directions to which forces are applied to the sealing ring 28 during the use and operation of the complete dispensing closure 10. If the trunnions 40 should accidentally touch the walls surrounding them, no significant alteration of the results achieved will occur.

The trunnions 40 may be cut off" by flat walls or sides 52 extending parallel to the axes of the trunnions 40 the length of these trunnions 40 in order to save a minor amount of material and, in certain instances, to simplify or facilitate the insertion of them within the slots 38 into the bearing openings 32 by providing sloping walls (the walls 52) on the trunnion 40 permitting more gradual deformation and entry of the trunnions 40 into the bearin openings 32 than if the sole contact was with respect to conventional cylindrical trunnions. With this structure the walls 52 are located on the trunnions 40 as an area where they are never contacted during use by the lines 35.

In the closure a short wall 54 may be extended over the portion of the cavity 20 not occupied by the spout 14 in open and closed positions. A number of other similar modifications may be made. It is possible to have the entire structure supporting and holding the spout member 14 exposed on the top .16 in a dispensing closure falling within the scope of this invention instead of within it as shown, although this is not considered preferable for esthetic as well as practical or utilitarian reasons.

I claim:

1. A dispensing closure of the rotatable spout type having two parts adapted to be snapped together, said closure having:

a closure top of a material permitting the parts of the closure to be snapped together, an opening leading into the closure top, a resilient sealing ring located around said opening, two aligned bearing means located above and on opposite sides of the opening and the sealing ring, and slots having walls leading to the extremities of the bearing means remote from said opening;

a spout member having a base, a portion of which is shaped as a surface of revolution, two aligned trunnions extending from the base, the axes of the trunnions being aligned with the axis of said portion, a spout extending from said base and a passage extending from said portion through the spout;

each of the trunnions being accommodated by one of the bearing cavities so that said portion engages portions of the closure top adjacent said opening, in such a manner that the spout member may be rotated between a closed position in which said portion seals ofi the opening and an open position in which the passage is in communication with the opening,

wherein the improvement comprises:

said bearing cavities of larger dimensions than the trunnions so that the closure top effectively contacts the trunnions only along the lines of intersection of the upwardly and downwardly converging Walls above each bearing cavity,

the interiors of said bearing cavities being otherwise spaced from said trunnions,

two aligned bearing cavities located above and on opposite sides of said opening, each bearing cavity being partially bounded at its top by two upwardly converging walls, a pair of slots formed in said closure top, one above each bearing cavity, each slot being defined by a pair of downwardly converging walls each of which intersects one of the upwardly converging walls of the associated bearing cavity,

said closure top and said spout member applying pressures to the portions of said closure top adjacent said opening which are equal on both sides of an imaginary plane passing through the axis of the opening and the axes of said portion and the trunnions,

said closure top and said spout member also applying pressures to the portions of said closure top adjacent said opening which are equal on both sides of an imaginary plane passing perpendicular to the axes of the trunnions and said portion through the center of said opening, and

said sealing ring applying a force to said spout memher so as to bias said spout member so that said trunnions are in contact with said lines of intersection.

2. A dispensing closure as defined in claim 1 wherein:

said trunnions are cylinders with flat sides extending their lengths, which sides are not engaged by said lines of intersection during the use of said dispensing closure.

References Cited UNITED STATES PATENTS 2,828,895 4/1958 Mart 222-536 3,265,256 8/1966 Chaber et a] 222534 3,283,967 11/1966 Akers 222-536 ROBERT B. REEVES, Primary Examiner.

FREDERICK R. HANDREN, Assistant Examiner.

UNITED STATES PATENT OFFICE CERTIFICATE OF CORRECTION Patent No. 3 ,430,825 March 4, 1969 Woodrow S. Wilson It is certified that error appears in the above identified patent and that said Letters Patent are hereby corrected as shown below:

Column 5, line 14, beginning with "l. A dispensing" cancel all to and including "lines of intersection. in line 27 column 6, and insert instead:

1. A dispensing closure of the rotatable-spout type having two parts adapted to be snapped together, said closure having:

a closure top of a material permitting the parts of the closure to be snapped together, an opening leading into the closure top, a resilient sealing ring located around said opening, two aligned bearing cavities located above and on opposite sides of said opening, each bearing cavity being partially bounded at its top by two upwardly converging walls a pair of slots formed in said closure top, one above each bearing cavity, each slot being defined by a pair of downwardly converging walls each of which intersects one of the upwardly converging walls of the associated bearing cavity;

a spout member having a base, a portion of which is shaped as a surface of revolution, two aligned trunnions extending from the base, the axes of the trunnions being aligned with the axis of said portion, a spout extending from said base and a passage extending from said portion through the spout;

each of the trunnions being accommodated by one of the bearing cavities so that said portion engages portions of the closure top adjacent said opening, in such a manner that the spout member may be rotated between a closed position in which said portion seals off the opening and an open position in which the passage is in communication with the opening;

wherein the improvement comprises said bearing cavities of larger dimensions than the trunnions so that the closure top effectively contacts the trunnions only along the lines of intersection of the upwardly and downwardly converging walls above each bearing cavity,

the interiors of said bearing cavities being otherwise spaced from said trunnions said closure top and said spout member applying pressures to the portions of said closure top adjacent said opening which are equal on both sides of an imaginary plane passing through the axis of the opening and the axes of said portion and the trunnions,

said closure top and said spout member also applying pressures to the portions of said closure top adjacent said opening which are equal on both sides of an imaginary plane passing perpendicular to the axes of the trunnions and said portion through the center of said opening, and

said sealing ring applying a force to said spout member so as to bias said spout member so that said trunnions are in contact with said lines of intersection.

Signed and sealed this 31st day of March 1970.

(SEAL) Attest:

EDWARD M.FLETCHER,JR.

WILLIAM E. SCHUYLER, JR. 

